Over the summer I wrote about RVing on a budget. In that article I shared that my family fulltime RVs. RVing fulltime might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I think there are valuable lessons to be learned when living simply. Here are some of the lessons I have learned about living the small […]
Living Within Your Means and Paying Down Debt
We live in a consumer society. It is difficult to stay out of debt and live on a budget. What if you have a small income and many expenses? How do you make your income stretch as far as you can? How can you consolidate debt so it’s not overtaking your expenses? We will explore […]
Trade School or College?
As the semester begins, many are thinking about the cost of education for the post high school student in their life. Is a degree really needed in this world? How can trade schools help us meet our goals and save us money? These are some of the questions I will seek to answer below.
Should You Have a Pet When in Debt?
When your debt has taken over, no doubt you’re trying to eliminate as many extra expenses as possible. That usually entails cutting your budget to the bone and using every bit of extra money to pay down debt. Still, if you have sizable debt, it’s hard to do that month after month with no end […]
5 Gifting Strategies to Avoid Buyer’s Remorse in January
I’ve pretty much gotten all of my Christmas gifting wrapped up. Ok, so not all of the presents are actually wrapped and under the tree. But I have at least purchased, or made, most of the things I’ll be giving as gifts this year. Now that my kids are adults, they get fewer gifts from […]
Best Uses for an End of Year Bonus
I used to work for a business that gave out end of year bonuses every year. Granted, some years it was a lawn chair, umbrella, or a blanket displaying the company name. But some years the bonus every employee received was monetary. Whenever the bonus was money I usually hung onto it until I figured […]
Actions You Can Take Now to Get Out of Debt
Although I hate to admit it, my husband and I haven’t always been the best money managers in the past. Having tight finances left us stressed and tired from sleepless nights of worrying. Luckily our finances have gotten better in the past few years. Still, we aren’t the only people who’ve experienced money troubles. Lots […]
What to Do When Your Debt is Taking Over
When your debt is keeping you up at night and consuming your every thought it’s time to make some changes. Getting your finances back on track won’t be easy, but you will be happier and less stressed once you do. Nevertheless, you’ve got a long road ahead until you see light at the end of […]
3 Ways to Talk to Your Family About Debt
Depending on the type of debt you have, your debt could be a soul-sucking force that affects every aspect of your life… or at least it seems like it does. Believe me, I’ve been there (slowly working my way out of it!) and sometimes paying off debt feels like an insurmountable goal. The times it […]
Unconventional Ways to Pay Off Student Loans Faster
If you’re like most recent college graduates, you’re likely facing some amount of student loan debt. While you’re likely trying to pay it off in anyway you can, including your own side gig, there are some more unconventional ways to repay your student loan debt you may not have thought of. If you’re willing to […]
Should You Marry Someone in Debt?
With almost half of Millennial households burden by some form of debt, many Millennials are likely to face the challenges of debt repayment with their spouse. However, disagreements about money is one of the top reasons couples get divorced, and debt is a huge part of this equation. This begs the question: is it wise […]
Money Goals to Set for 2015
I’m big on setting goals that are achievable. I don’t try to tackle too much and sometimes it’s as simple as just doing 1 thing better over the next year. Today, PF Pro contributor, Kali Hawlk takes a look at some money goals that you can set for 2015. This is also Kali’s last post […]
Millennials Know They Should Save, So Why Aren’t They Saving?
A recent survey conducted by Wells Fargo showed that 80% of Millennials say they understand the importance of saving. They believe in living below their means and they claim coming of age in the Great Recession has taught them how to survive tough financial times. This is great news, right? Seems like those media outlets […]
Can You Distinguish Between Needs and Wants?
Innocent words have a tendency to take on a life of their own. This happens in many ways. One of the most common is when the more repeat something, the more we believe it – even if it’s not necessarily true. Take the example of needs versus wants. We’re typically so flippant about declaring things […]
Prioritizing Your Cash Allocations When You’re Paying Off Debt
If you have student loan debt, credit card debt, or a balance on a personal loan, the smart thing to do is pay those debts off as quickly as possible. But as anyone who is currently dealing with debt knows, just because you that obligation to repay doesn’t mean you don’t have other financial priorities. […]
Is Fear Paralyzing You From Looking at Your Finances?
This is a guest post by Todd at Fearless Men. Head over to his blog and check out what else he has to say if you like this article! There’s a never ending list of ways to get into debt. Overspending. Using credit cards and only paying the minimum balance. Using credit and NOT paying. […]
Reader Question: Should I pay off my student loan or car loan first?
Reader Alberto writes in: “I was wondering about what to pay off first. I have an $11,000 car loan at 3.25% with 5 years left and $20,000 in student loans at 6% with 10 years left. What should I pay off first and how much? I have a $10,000 emergency fund and my mom just […]